Have you ever wondered whether there are sharks in the Mediterranean Sea? Well, now you don’t have to wonder anymore because there are over 100 species of shark living in the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Sea has long been known for its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. However, it also contains a number of deadly creatures such as jellyfish, stingrays, and even sharks.
Sharks are found throughout the world, but only a handful live in the Mediterranean. They include the Great White Shark, Tiger Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Bull Sharks, and Nurse Sharks. These animals are usually harmless, but their bite can cause severe injuries.
Are There Any Sharks In The Mediterranean Sea?
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. With over 50 million tourists flocking to the area every year, it’s no surprise that sharks are often spotted swimming around the coastline.
In fact, there are at least 47 different shark species that call the region home. However, many of these species are harmless to humans and pose little risk to swimmers.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, almost any shark species in the ocean can be found in the Mediterranean.
This includes some of the most dangerous ones such as great whites, tiger sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, makos, and even the infamous white pointer shark.
While these sharks do pose a danger to humans, they’re rarely aggressive and usually avoid human contact.
However, several species of shark prefer warmer water temperatures and tend to spend much of their lives near shorelines.
These include whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks, sandbar sharks, dusky sharks, spinner dolphins, and blue sharks. All of these species are relatively docile and pose little threat to humans.
What Breeds Of Shark Are There In The Mediterranean?
The Mediterranean Sea holds many different kinds of sharks. Some are small, others large. Some are fast, while others are slow. Let’s take a look at five of the most common species of sharks found in the Mediterranean Sea today.
Sand Tiger Small Tooth Sharks
The 2nd most common shark species found off the coast of Lebanon are the sand tiger shark. These beautiful creatures are often spotted near the shoreline, where they feed on crabs, shrimp, and fish. Their dorsal fins are triangular, and they grow up to 5 feet long.
They are usually seen alone, but sometimes groups of 3-5 individuals congregate together. They are harmless to people and pose no threat to swimmers. However, it’s best to avoid swimming close to them, since they can become agitated quickly.
In addition to being a great sighting, you’ll also enjoy watching them swim around. They’re quite active and energetic, making them fun to watch.
Blue Shark
Blue sharks are among the most common types of sharks found in the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, it’s the most common type of fish shark in the world.
These large predators grow up to 5 feet long and weigh around 400 pounds. Their color ranges from light blue to dark gray.
They live in cool, deep water so only come close to land if lost, young, in distress, or looking for food.
They feed mostly on small schooling fishes like sardines and anchovies and occasionally eat crustaceans, sea turtles, octopuses, squid, and even small whales.
Beaches may still be closed off if a Blue shark ventures too close, however, simply for safety reasons.
Cat Sharks
Cat sharks are among the smallest of sharks, averaging just three feet long. But they don’t look like typical sharks either; they resemble small fish, with rounded heads and big eyes. Their fins are set far back on their bodies, giving them a distinctive appearance.
The six species of catshark live in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. Two species—the black-mouthed catshark and the oceanic cat shark—live in the western Atlantic Ocean off North America and South America.
A third species lives along the east coast of Africa, while the remaining three species—the common catshark, the dwarf catshark, and the small-spotted catshark—are found in the Mediterranean Sea.
Grey Nurse Shark
The grey nurse shark is a large, deep-bodied fish that lives in warm waters around Australia and New Zealand.
These sharks grow up to 3 meters long and weigh over 200 kg. Their name comes from the fact that they look like nurses because of their grayish coloration.
Despite their bulk, size, teeth, and fearsome appearance, they’re actually quite slow and docile. In fact, they’re the most docile shark species out there.
They do have a few characteristics that make them dangerous, though. First off, they have a nasty habit of hiding under boats and surfboards.
If they feel threatened, they’ll lunge forward and try to drag the victim down into the water. And if that doesn’t work, they’ll just keep swimming away.
Secondly, they have some pretty big mouths. But they’re not really capable of biting anything. Instead, they use their jaws to hold onto prey while they swallow it whole.
And finally, they’re endangered. So chances are, you won’t see many of them unless you go scuba diving.
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip sharks are among the most common sharks you’ll see off the coast of Australia.
These guys are known for being friendly and curious. And while they don’t pose much danger to humans, they do enjoy eating fish and small marine mammals.
They’re usually seen in shallow coastal areas, including lagoons, estuaries, and bays. But they’ve been spotted farther out into the open ocean, too.
In fact, some people speculate that they might even swim across the Pacific Ocean to reach Hawaii!
The black tip on their fins is actually called a “black spot.” It’s caused by a chemical reaction that happens when sunlight hits certain parts of the skin.
This darkening helps protect them from predators because it makes them harder to spot underwater.
Hammerhead Shark
The world’s largest fish, the whale shark is one of the most majestic creatures on Earth. With a length of up to 18 meters (59 feet), it’s the size of a school bus. But despite its impressive appearance, it’s actually quite shy.
And while you might think that makes it easy prey for sharks like the great white, the opposite is true. These gentle giants are extremely wary of humans, and even more so of boats.
The hammerhead shark is one of the most beautiful sharks in the world. These fish are found throughout warm seas around the globe, including the Mediterranean Sea.
With their distinctive head shape, they look like a cross between a manta ray and a great white shark. They’re often seen swimming near coral reefs, where they feed on small invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs.
Hammerheads are slow swimmers, but they do move quickly enough to catch prey. Their eyesight is poor, so they rely on smell and hearing to detect food. They use their large mouths to grab prey and hold it down while tearing off chunks with their razor-sharp teeth.
They’re typically solitary animals, although they sometimes gather together during mating season. Females give birth to live young once every 2 to 4 years.
Spinner Sharks
Spinners are one of the most misunderstood species in the ocean. They’re harmless, but they do look like something out of “Jaws.”
Spinners are usually found near coral reefs, where they feed on small fish and crustaceans. They spend much of their day cruising around looking for food. This makes them easy targets for divers who want to see what’s lurking beneath the surface.
Bull And Tiger Sharks
The Bull Shark is one of the most dangerous sharks in the world. It is found throughout the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, the Bull Shark is the second most deadly shark behind the Great White Shark. However, there is some controversy surrounding whether the Bull Shark actually lives in the Mediterranean Sea.
There have been several sightings of Bull Sharks off the coasts of Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. But none of these sightings have ever been confirmed by scientists.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Shark is another extremely dangerous shark species. It is known to live in warm seas around Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Thailand.
The Tiger Shark is responsible for many attacks on humans, including a few fatalities. This makes it the third-deadliest shark species in the world.
The Great White
The Great White Shark is a large predatory fish that grow up to 10 meters long and weigh over 3 tonnes.
There are four species of great white shark – the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, southern African, and Australian. These differ slightly in appearance and behavior.
Great whites are widely distributed throughout the tropical and temperate waters of the globe. They inhabit coastal areas where prey such as seals, sea lions and penguins congregate.
In some cases, they even venture into rivers and estuaries. This makes them a potential threat to humans, especially those involved in water sports like surfing and swimming.
Great Whites feed mainly on marine mammals, including seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, manatees, and whales. However, they are opportunistic predators and will take almost anything that moves.
Their diet includes fish, crustaceans, mollusks, birds, turtles, seabirds, squid, octopuses, frogs, crabs, lobsters, snakes, small mammals, carrion, eggs, and even baby sharks.
Despite being a formidable predator, great whites rarely attack humans. Most incidents occur when people enter shallow water or swim close to shore. When this happens, the shark becomes disoriented and confused.
Other Species
Milk Shark
This shark gets its name because it looks like a cross between a catfish and a cow. It lives near shorelines, where it feeds on fish and crustaceans.
Thresher Shark Species
These are large sharks with long bodies and broad heads. Their teeth look like saw blades. They live in shallow waters along coastlines.
Longnose Spurdog
This dog-sized shark has a very distinctive snout. Its dorsal fin is shaped like a wedge. This shark is found in coastal areas throughout the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mediterranean sharks are becoming increasingly important to scientists studying marine ecosystems. Here are some frequently asked questions about Mediterranean sharks.
The Mediterranean In Italy – Are There Sharks?
A lot has been made in the media about Great Whites being spotted off the coast of Italy. This is a big deal because it suggests that there might be some sort of connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. But we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
First, even though there are lots of tiger sharks around here, there are very few blue sharks. And second, the chances of seeing one of these large predators while you’re swimming are extremely low.
The Mediterranean In Spain – Are There Sharks?
The Mediterranean Sea is home to many different types of marine life. One of those animals is the shark.
While some species live in warmer parts of the world, others prefer cooler climates. In fact, there are even sharks living in the Mediterranean Sea.
The water temperature in the region varies depending on the season. During winter months, the sea gets cold, making it harder for sharks to survive. However, during summer months, the water warms up, allowing sharks to thrive and grow bigger.
While most people don’t think about sharks when they go swimming, there are actually quite a few species that swim in the Mediterranean.
However, most of them are harmless. Still, it pays to keep an eye out for sharks when you’re enjoying the water.
The Mediterranean In Greece – Are There Sharks?
Sharks are one of the most feared creatures in the ocean. They’re known for their size, speed, sharp teeth, and aggressive nature.
But there are many different kinds of sharks, including some that live in warm tropical seas, others that prefer colder water, and even some that thrive in the deep sea.
Sharks are some of nature’s most mysterious creatures. They live in watery environments around the world, including the deep seas and rivers.
Many shark species call the Greek coastline home. The most common ones include the blue shark, the gray reef shark, the white tip reef shark, the bonnet head shark, the silky shark, the hammerhead shark, the scalloped hammerhead shark, the oceanic white tip shark, and the leopard shark.
Most shark sightings occur in the deeper parts of the Mediterranean Sea. These areas tend to be much cooler than the surface waters.
As a result, the sharks favor the deeper waters off of the shoreline. Because of this, tourists rarely encounter sharks near popular tourist beaches. However, some shark tours do offer excursions where visitors can spot sharks.
The Mediterranean In Turkey – Are There Sharks?
Turkey has a long history of being a popular tourist destination. Millions of people flock to the beaches each year, making up one of the most visited countries in the world.
And while many people enjoy swimming in the turquoise waters, there are some things you might want to keep in mind before heading out into the sea.
The Turkish coast is home to several different types of sharks. While the majority of those species aren’t dangerous to humans, there are a few exceptions.
One of the most common species found along the shoreline is the sand tiger shark. These gentle giants grow up to 10 feet long and weigh around 2,500 pounds. They prefer shallow water and sandy bottoms, where they feed on crabs, mollusks, small fish, and even octopuses.
Most of the sharks seen off the Turkish Coast are harmless to humans. Still, it’s always best to avoid getting too close to the water.
The Mediterranean In Cyprus – Are There Sharks?
Cyprus is well known as a diver’s paradise, and it’s easy to see why. Its warm climate makes it perfect for swimming, while its crystal clear waters make it ideal for snorkeling. But what about sharks? Are there sharks in the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus?
There are no confirmed reports of shark attacks in the Mediterranean off Cyprus, but you do still run into some interesting creatures.
While there aren’t many sharks in the shallows near Cyprus, there are plenty of larger ones in deeper waters.
The Mediterranean In Egypt – Are There Sharks?
Sharks are among the most feared creatures in the sea. But while we know they exist off the coasts of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and California, there aren’t many confirmed sightings of sharks off the coast of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea.
But it turns out that you might find them around the shores of Egypt. A study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series found that the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez had some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world. And one of those species is the great white shark.
They found that the waters of Egypt were home to many different types of sharks, including hammerheads, and tiger sharks.
And despite being known as a dangerous predator, the number of attacks on humans along the Egyptian coastline is actually very low.
Will You Find Whale Sharks In The Mediterranean?
Whale sharks are large fish that grow up to 20 feet long. They live in warm oceans like the Gulf Stream and the Caribbean Sea.
However, most whale shark populations are found off the coasts of Australia and South Africa. These areas are known for having some of the best Whale Shark sighting opportunities.
The species is rarely seen in the Mediterranean Sea because it prefers warmer water temperatures. Only one study has been conducted in the area, and it did not find any Whale Sharks.
Are There Many White Shark Attacks In The Mediterranean?
The Great White shark is known for being territorial. This makes them dangerous because they could potentially bite someone even though they don’t intend to.
Most Great White shark attacks occur during mating season, which lasts from May to July. During this period, males become very aggressive towards females.
There have been 31 reported cases of Great White shark attacks since 1838. Of those 31 incidents, only four resulted in death.
These numbers are extremely low compared to the number of people killed by sharks every year. For example, in 2016 alone, there were about 7,000 shark attacks worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Sharks are fascinating animals. While they can be scary when they attack, they are also amazing predators that play an important role in our ecosystem.
It’s unfortunate that so few people get to see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. Hopefully, more research will help us learn more about these mysterious ocean dwellers.
